LIAO WINS 69KG WEIGHTLIFTING GOLD

BBC SPORT
lympics/weightlifting/7556618.stm
2008/08/12 13:42:59 GMT

China’s Liao Hui added to the host nation’s gold medal tally by
winning the men’s 69kg weightlifting title.

Liao snatched 158kg and lifted 190kg in the clean and jerk for a
total of 348 kg, 10kg more than France’s silver medallist Vencelas
Dabaya-Tientcheu.

The Frenchman secured his medal with his first 187kg lift in the
clean and jerk for a combined total of 338kg.

Armenia’s Tigran Martirosyan won bronze, also with a 338kg total,
but weighed more than the Frenchman.

Dabaya-Tientcheu made a late bid for gold with an attempted 197kg
lift in his second clean and jerk.

But he failed in his first attempt and, with silver assured, decided
not to have a third lift.

"I saw how he lifted 187kg easily and realised that he was a very
strong opponent. I was indeed worried," said the 20-year-old Liao of
Dabaya-Tientcheu’s attempt at 197kg.

"I was in a disadvantageous position because my second lift was
inferior. I was really nervous and was waiting for something to
happen."

China’s Shi Zhiyong, who won gold in the 62kg in Athens four years
ago, pulled out of the competition for unknown reasons after lifting
152kg in the snatch.